Why You Should Stay At The New NoMad Los Angeles

As a fan of the NoMad New York with its eclectic, moody European décor placed within a Beaux Arts building’s frame, I wondered how that look would translate to traditionally more open, sunnier Los Angeles. After staying at the NoMad Los Angeles which opened in January, though, I found that if you like the New York original, you’ll like the new kid on the block.

Benoit Linero

The bright colors, velvet and brocade fabrics evident in the lobby.

Part of the reason is the location: the still edgy but developing Downtown neighborhood in an opulent, Neoclassical 1923 building that originally housed the Bank of Italy and which with rich details such as the lobby’s restored Italianate blue and gold ceiling looks very Old World. “We wanted our second NoMad to be in a great historic building in an exciting world class city and in a neighborhood that was interesting and getting more interesting,” explains Andrew Zobler, founder of the Sydell Group which creates and manages the hotels. “The Giannini Building spoke to all of our objectives.”

Benoit Linero

The Neoclassical exterior of the NoMad Los Angeles.

It also spoke to French designer Jacques Garcia who designed the New York hotel and was consulted, according to Zobler, merely as a courtesy; their plan was to go with the building’s origin and hire an Italian designer. But once Garcia showed them photos of his favorite home in Sicily, they knew he was their man. And it’s hard to imagine an Italian designer creating more touches in sync with the building than the velvet and brocade covered chairs in red, green and blue that divide the dining areas of the lobby with its columns and arches. Zobler explains the design as a fusion with California Urban style, the L.A. influence visible in the light colors in the 241 rooms plus touches that mirror the New York design such as pedestal tubs as part of the room. Other design touches are marble tables that double for work or dining, patterned screens and a mix of contemporary art and photographs.

Benoit Linero

The lighter color/California influence in the rooms.

Judging from the crowds that cluster in the property’s coffee bar/turned cocktail bar at night (modeled after Venice’s Caffe Florian), the creative cocktail driven Giannini Bar, the Lobby for all day dining and the dinner only (at this point—lunch will debut later) restaurant on the mezzanine, this hotel has been a buzzing scene since opening day. Design aside, that’s due to the transfer of the New York hotel’s dining creators, revered chef Daniel Humm and partner Will Guidara with the menu overseen here by executive chef Chris Flint who previously worked with the two at Eleven Madison Park and New York's NoMad. It’s also a fusion of NoMad classics such as the roast chicken with black truffle and brioche stuffing that is a signature in New York and new dishes such as Black Cod with red kale, pears and horseradish on the mezzanine. In the lobby, simpler California influenced inventions are on the menu such as tagliatelle with Alaskan King Crab and Meyer lemon and a Cobb salad with smoked line caught tuna, watermelon radishes and shaved Parmigiano that is completely untraditional but also delicious.

Laurie Werner

The rooftop pool opening this spring.

Later on in the spring, some of that crowd will undoubtedly gravitate up to the roof with another dining spot and cocktail bar planned and a pool with views over Downtown. But even the pool will have an Italian touch: a replica of the main sculpture in the 16th century Il Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo, the “park of monsters” in Italy’s region of Lazio.